Shimla

The District Police Shimla has arrested a repeat drug trafficking accused under the preventive detention provisions of the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (PIT NDPS Act) as part of its ongoing drive against narcotics, officials said on Wednesday.

The accused, Gagan Bhushan, a resident of Bejori village under Seema post office in Rohru tehsil of Shimla district, was taken into custody and sent to jail for three months. Police said the step was taken after he was repeatedly found involved in trafficking heroin, commonly known as “chitta”, despite multiple arrests in the past.

According to police, Bhushan has been named as an accused in several cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (ND&PS Act), 1985, involving recovery of heroin/chitta and charas.

His first arrest was made on March 25, 2019, at Police Station Jubbhal, under Sections 21 and 29 of the ND&PS Act, with the recovery of about 3.25 grams of heroin/chitta. He was again arrested on July 17, 2022, at Police Station Rohru, under the same sections, when around 51.33 grams of heroin/chitta were seized. On the same date, he was booked in another case involving the recovery of nearly 118.97 grams of the substance.

Subsequently, on February 14, 2023, police at Police Station Rohru recovered about 2.10 grams of heroin/chitta and 113.78 grams of charas from his possession under Sections 20 and 21 of the ND&PS Act.

Police said the preventive detention was invoked to disrupt drug trafficking networks and prevent the accused from continuing illicit activities. Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh said the district police is following a zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking and will continue strict action to safeguard youth and maintain public order.

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Officials added that the move is aimed at protecting society from the harmful effects of drugs and ensuring public safety.